Famous musician Frederic Gershom Parkington handed Bury St Edmunds the gift of time

The name of Frederic Gershom Parkington lives on in Bury St Edmunds, not least as the subject of a Blue Plaque affixed to his birthplace.

Born in 1886 above his father’s military tailors shop at number 29 Abbeygate Street, as a child Frederic gazed out of the first floor window here and saw the grammar school pupils carrying their violin and cello cases on their way to the school, which was then on the Vinefields.

Fascinated by these, he took up the cello and soon won a scholarship to the Royal College of Music.

Frederic became prolific at arranging music and very early on in his career was in demand, making music fit the new age of phonograph records. This was in the early 1920s and it was around this time he became fascinated by time and started collecting timepieces.

He formed what was to become a world-famous quintet and was very popular on the wireless.

In the 1930s, silver screen actors and stars from the music world were often used by cigarette manufacturers to promote their brand and Frederic was feted in this way. It would seem you had reached the pinnacle of your profession if your activities were published in a set of cigarette cards.

When World War Two came, he toured the country performing for the Armed Services. It was this war that was so tragically to alter his life – his son John was killed in the North Africa campaign.

Frederic decided to keep his son’s memory alive when, in 1953, his will bequeathed to the town of Bury his fabulous collection of time pieces. Water, bracket, long case, lantern, mantle and table clocks are all in the collection along with wrist watches and even sundials. Famous watchmakers like Tompion are represented as well as Bury makers Richard Rayment and the Hawkins family.

A museum housing his collection opened in 1954 at Angel Corner, but after two burglaries in 1990 and 1991 it was moved to the Manor House Museum. After this closed, the collection was put in storage at West Stow but now you can still see most of it in Moyse's Hal Museum.

Frederic Gershom Parkington died in Jersey in 1952. He is buried in Bury St Edmunds cemetery. A Blue Plaque to his memory was put up on number 29 (now Hendos) in 2012 by the Bury Society.

Martyn Taylor is a local historian, author and Bury Tour Guide. His latest book, Going Underground: Bury St Edmunds, is widely available.